9 Best Independent Living Communities in Scranton, PA

Learn More About Independent Living in Scranton, PA

Scranton, the Electric City, creates a peaceful, laid-back setting for residents with countless opportunities for entertainment and leisure. Diverse shopping and dining experiences at The Marketplace at Steamtown, locally brewed beers at Poor Richard’s Pub, or boat tours on nearby Lake Wallenpaupack offer a little taste of what Scranton has in store.

Independent living communities — also known simply as retirement communities — in Scranton are geared towards seniors who are able to live on their own, without daily assistance, and prefer to live among people their age. This usually means residents are self-sufficient and do not require hands-on care. Think of Scranton retirement communities as age-restricted (typically 55+) complexes, which provide organized activities, meal services, and transportation.

Cost of Independent Living in Scranton, PA

The median monthly cost of independent living is about $2,700 in the Scranton area and $2,600 in the state of Pennsylvania.

Learn More About Scranton, PA

Cost of Living

The total household expenses associated with living in Scranton are rated 19 points below the national average. Grocery and other essential costs are also rated below the average, indicating that Scranton is relatively affordable.

Index Scores

All index scores are based on a scale that has the national average set at 100. A score of 200 indicates that the cost is twice as expensive as the national average, while a score of 50 indicates that the cost is half as expensive.

Household Expenses	Health Care	Insurance	Entertainment	Groceries	Clothing
81	71	77	87	82	81

Income and Housing

Median Income Age 45-64	Median Income Age 65+	Median Household Income	Average Individual Income	Median Employee Salary	Average Property Tax	One-bedroom Apartment Gross Rent Estimate
$45,005 per year	$28,741 per year	$39,001 per year	$21,297 per year	$40,097 per year	$3,189 per year	$657 per month

Local Hospitals

The top hospitals that service Scranton include:

Regional Hospital of Scranton

• Facility type: corporate, short-term acute care
• Bed count: 150+
• Specialties: emergency department, ICU, joint replacement

Moses Taylor Hospital

• Facility type: corporate, short-term acute care
• Bed count: 180+
• Specialties: emergency department, ICU, physical therapy

Geisinger-Community Medical Center

• Facility type: nonprofit, short-term acute care
• Bed count: 270+
• Specialties: emergency department, ICU, spine surgery

Weather and Climate

Scranton’s climate is classified as humid continental, meaning the city experiences four distinct seasons with notable cold snaps in winter. The average humidity level is 67%, and humidity levels are often highest during September at about 73%.

Seasonal Temperatures

January Average	January Maximum	January Minimum
26°F	34°F	19°F

July Average	July Maximum	July Minimum
72°F	83°F	62°F

Air Quality

• Relative Air Quality Index: 109

This index is based on a scale that has the national average set at 100. A score of 200 indicates twice the presence of air pollutants than the national average, while a score of 50 indicates half the presence.

Precipitation

• Average annual precipitation: 38″

Demographics and Values

Population Statistics

Median Age	Percent of Population Over 65	Population	Population Density	Average Household Size
38	16.9%	74,523	2,945 per square mile	2.3

Race & Ethnicity

American Indian or Alaskan Native	Asian	Black	Hispanic or Latino	Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	White (not Hispanic or Latino)
0.1%	4.7%	5.9%	14.8%	0.1%	4.4%	71.9%

These figures were taken from the most recent U.S. Census.

LGBTQ+ Inclusivity

These scores were taken from the 2020 Human Rights Campaign’s Municipal Equality Index.

• Non-discrimination laws in Wilkes-Barre: 30/30
• Overall inclusivity: 90/100

2016 Presidential Election Results for Lackawanna County

Democratic	Republican	Other
50.2%	46.8%	3.0%

Arts, Culture, Entertainment, and Recreation

Some of the most popular museums and historic sites in Scranton include:

• Anthracite Heritage Museum
• Electric City Trolley Museum
• Houdini Museum
• Steamtown National Historic Site

Outdoor attractions in Scranton:

• Nay Aug Park
• Stagis Park
• Lake Scranton
• Tobyhanna State Park
• Lake Wallenpaupack
• Marywood University Arboretum

Scranton’s top entertainment destinations and shopping districts are:

• Scranton Art Haus
• Scranton Cultural Center at the Masonic Temple
• Scranton Latin Festival
• Scranton Fringe Festival
• The Marketplace at Steamtown
• Viewmont Mall
• Downtown Scranton

Transportation

The County of Lackawanna Transit System (COLTS) provides public bus transportation throughout Scranton and the surrounding area. Taxis and rideshare services, like Uber and Lyft, are also available in Scranton.